In a tweet in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the force said: “Sadly, we confirm that Kiara Moore, aged 2 (27/3/15) was pronounced dead at the UHW, Cardiff last night, having being recovered from a car in the River Teifi, #Cardigan yesterday afternoon (19th March 2018). Kiara’s family is being supported by specialist officers.”

Mr Moore also added in a Facebook post: “Thank you all for your help this evening. A mega thank you the officers who jumped in the river and the rest of the emergency services for all they did.

“Unfortunately Kiara had an amazing but short life.”

Officers said they were continuing to investigate the circumstances of the incident and appealed for witnesses who may have seen the vehicle enter the river between 3.30pm and 4.50pm on Monday to call 101, quoting incident 216 of 19/03/2018.

Emergency services surrounded a car found in the River Teifi in Cardigan, Wales (Picture: PA)

Emergency services recovered the two-year-old from the river (Picture: Wales News Service)

Police had launched a two-hour search for the vehicle after the initial reports it had been stolen with Kiara inside.

Her mother, Kim, made an appeal on Facebook.

She wrote: “Can everyone look out for the car, it’s been stolen with my daughter in it. Please share!”

Her sister Nicola said: “My sister’s car was stolen from Carmarthenshire with my niece inside, please share and get my niece home safe!”